“If that’s okay with you…”
“Mhmm.” I smiled. I was ready for this thing between Chandler and me to be less of a scandal and more of a celebration now that we had worked everything out.
Chapter 48
Chandler
I straightened the lapels of my black jacket as I walked through the lobby of Harold Enterprises. It was back to being its usual bustling place with people on their laptops and on their phones, sipping coffee from the nearby coffee shop. It was as if it were saying, “We’re back on top again,” and I was happy for it. Mr. Harold’s legacy would live on, despite the fraudulent scandal that almost broke it.
After we had spent some time narrowing down a list of who could be the culprit behind the missing money, Mr. Harold had discovered that it was an accountant who had been stealing from him. Not just any accountant, but a man named Brent who had worked for him for over twenty years. I was sure that was a blow to the gut, thinking he could trust someone who had such a long tenure. I had never met the man, but according to Gabriella, younever would have guessed it was him. He flew under the radar, using his years at the company as the perfect cover.
It made me realize that I hadn’t spent any time getting to know anyone at the company in my short time as CEO. I wondered what would have gotten by me had I had more time here. Whatever my next venture was, I would take the time to get to know my employees. Not just to weed out the bad, but to get to know the good. Gabriella taught me that. Seeing her interact with everyone here made me realize how important those work relationships were.
The elevator doors dinged and I walked onto the floor, nodding at the employees who were piecing back together the office. Many were reorganizing their desks, while others were carrying boxes of files back to their rightful place. The place was full again, nothing like the ghost town it had been just over a week ago after the SEC had pillaged through it.
People were surprised to see me. Looks of quiet shock and a few carefully disguised sneers were cast my way. It wasn’t like I didn’t deserve them. I absorbed them and continued walking toward the conference room, wondering what this meeting was about. After her lunch with her father the previous day, she had said he wanted me to come into the office for a meeting. I assumed it would be to close out our little investigation.
Gabriella had left earlier this morning, saying she had work to get done at the office. I wanted to protest, and keep her in our own little world a while longer, but I knew how much work meant to her. The doctor had cleared her to go back, as long as it wasn’t going to impose any major stress on her. Now that Mr.Harold had dealt with the missing money and the SEC, there wasn’t anything to worry about except for normal everyday work things.
With her gone, leaving me alone in the apartment, I realized it was probably time for me to start searching for my next opportunity. It wasn’t like I needed the money, I was set for life and a couple more lifetimes, but I enjoyed working. It was who I was.
I walked into the open door of the boardroom to find the table full of board members in their seats talking in a low chatter, but my eyes were immediately drawn to Gabriella, who stood chatting with her father at the head of the table. She wore the same pale blue suit I had met her in, except this time it wasn’t covered in coffee stains. She had somehow salvaged it, and thank God she did, because it looked just as good on her as the first day I saw her. I smiled fondly at her, unable to hide it.
The only difference now was that I knew she was carrying our child, which made her all the more radiant. The pregnancy glow was real. Maybe because I knew she was pregnant, I could make out her very small bump underneath her blazer. Anyone else wouldn’t notice, but I did, and I had grown rather fond of it. I was always placing my hand over her stomach. She would just laugh and place her hand over mine. It was too soon for kicks. Too soon to know if the baby was a boy or a girl, but the baby already had me wrapped around his or her finger.
She looked up from the papers in her hands, her hazel eyes finding me in the doorway. I had to suck in a quiet breath. Seeing her in her element again was a sight. There was a buildingfire behind those eyes, only making her more radiant. This was where she belonged. She smiled, tucking her long brown hair behind her ear. Her father followed her gaze and landed on me. I wasn’t sure what to expect under his gaze. Sure, I had helped him find out who was stealing from him, but I had also knocked up his daughter. His expression was surprisingly pleasant.
“Mr. White. Good of you to come. Please, take a seat.” He gestured to the chair beside him, opposite of Gabriella. She gave me a reassuring smile and I rounded the table, the board members eyeing me curiously.
“Now, I know many of you have heard the rumors of the embezzlement,” said Mr. Harold firmly as he looked around the room. “For those who didn’t know, the full truth of the matter was that someone I had entrusted was stealing money from a private account. They were careful and discreet, and in a position to get away with it. It was a disheartening discovery, but it wouldn’t have been made without Mr. White.”
I gave him a weak smile as the board members looked at me.
“In his time as CEO, he had hired his own accounting firm and they had discovered the fraudulent activity that had been going on. The SEC must have been keeping an eye on it and took matters into their own hands, which is why you saw the office in the state it is. In the end, it was Mr. White and me who came to our discovery. Without him, who knows how much longer this would have gone on. How many more millions would have gone missing. I owe a great deal to Mr. White.”
The board members murmured their quiet approval among themselves. Mr. Harold continued on.
“I don’t know whether to blame my old age or putting my trust into the wrong people, but I do know that my time as CEO had come to an end at the right time. This was proof of that.”
Gabriella reached for her father’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. The love between them was evident. The integrity that Mr. Harold had was evident too. He didn’t shy away from his mistakes, or in admitting them. While he wasn’t the one who was stealing, he still acknowledged his part in not seeing it happening. He wasn’t too proud to admit that.
I realized how much my own pride in the past had hindered me, not only in work, but in relationships. From then on, I wanted to strive to be like him. I just hoped I would have a chance to be a CEO again one day, and lead a company in the way Mr. Harold did. Of course, I wished things would have gone differently in my time here, but if they had, then I wouldn’t be with Gabriella. I had no regrets, especially as I looked at her now.
“I owe a great deal of thanks to my daughter, Gabriella, as well. She stepped up in tremendous ways to help in the investigation, and to keep everything, including myself, from falling apart,” said Mr. Harold looking fondly at his daughter. “As you know, she’s been an asset to this company for many, many years. I don’t think it would be what it is if she hadn’t been a part of it.”
I could see how much his words meant to her by the way her eyes glassed over and the way her mouth twitched, leaving youguessing if she was about to smile or cry. I wanted to go and hug her, but I stayed seated. This was her moment, and I was happy to witness it among the agreeing board members around me. I had a feeling he was about to make the announcement he should have made all those months ago. One that didn’t involve me. I bit back my smile of anticipation as Mr. Harold went on.
“In light of recent events, I’ve come to the realization that the best way to move forward is to make both Gabriella and Chandler CEOs of Harold Enterprises.”
I felt my mouth drop as I stared at him in surprise, seeing that Gabriella’s mouth was open too. This wasn’t what she had been expecting. I wondered if it were a good or a bad thing. The board members around us all applauded and nodded their heads eagerly as they looked between us both.
“Congratulations are in order for these two, for not only saving the company, but for other exciting circumstances as well.” He looked at Gabriella, whose mouth was still open, and gave her a reassuring nod. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed nervously. She gave me a look before standing up. I could tell her hands were shaking.
“I-I am shocked by this news. I have spent most of my life working to see that my father’s legacy lives on, and I am honored to take on this new responsibility.”
“Well deserved,” said a nearby board member.
“Thank you.” Her cheeks turned a shade of pink, as if she wasn’t sure what to do with the attention she rightfully deserved. “I would also like to share that Chandler and I are expecting.”
